13:1–13. Too often 1 Corinthians 13 has been read without any regard for its context. This usually results in misreading a biblical text. One can appreciate the appeal of this chapter, though, as a distinct unit in itself. Both thematically and stylistically it rises above the trenches of Paul’s battles with the Corinthians and takes on a life of its own. We have to remember, however, that Paul was still in the trenches when he composed these words. They are not unrelated to his larger campaign against